Mozilla Resists US Gov't Request to Nuke "MafiaaFire" Add-On

Friday May 6th 2011 by Datamation.com Staff

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The add-on makes it easier for users to find sites after their domain names have been seized by the government.

Ars Technica: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has asked the Mozilla Foundation to remove the MafiaaFire Redirector add-on for Firefox from its site, but so far the open source organization is resisting. The add-on in question redirects visitors from one domain name to another. So, for example, if the government seizes a site's domain name and the organization sets up the site again under a different domain name, MafiaaFire will redirect users who type in the old domain name to the new domain name.

Mozilla's lawyer responded to the request with the following questions:

Have any courts determined that the MafiaaFire add-on is unlawful or illegal in any way? If so, on what basis? (Please provide any relevant rulings)

Is Mozilla legally obligated to disable the add-on or is this request based on other reasons? If other reasons, can you please specify.

Can you please provide a copy of the relevant seizure order upon which your request to Mozilla to take down the MafiaaFire add-on is based?